Window device



Dec. 27, 1949 I VITA 2,492,721

wmnow DEVICE Filed Dec. 30,. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

. 1N VEN TOR. LAWQLNLE VITA AT To ilNILY- L. VITA WINDOW DEVICE Dec. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. :50, 1948 2 EN 9 35 1w 2% w m N TA R NW 0 m n me A Dgc. 27, 1949 L, WA 2,492,721

WINDOW DEVICE INLI'EVTOR. LAWRENCE V\TA ATTORN EY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 wmnow DEVICE Lawrence Vita, Kings Park, N. 17., assignor to Vita Automatic Windows,-- -Inc., Smithtown Branch, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 36, was, Serial No. 63,102

Nil. 160-l00) Claims.

This invention relates to window devices and ,,is herein disclosed in some detail as emmdied in a window of the so-called picture type, so that the heavy window is easily opened and shut. In the form shown the window opening is automatically covered by a fly screen when the glass is moved away from the opening.

Windows of the picture type, iving a wide and high unbroken outlook, have been built into country houses for many years to afl'ord an extensive view of the landscape, or of the sea, but have proved to be eflective chilling devices in winter. Those windows were regarded as having glass too heavy to mount as sliding sash, partly for the reason that any counterwelghts to balance them would be so large asto be too large to conceal in any ordinary wall.

To overcome that chilling effect such windows are often now fitted with two spaced sheets of glass. That made the interior of the houses much more comfortable but added to the weight of the window, thus throwing more obstacles in the way of any desired easy manipulation of the window.

It proved to involve many problems when attempts were made to mechanically open and shut the window.

The weights involved are so great that a hand crank to be operated by the average woman was prohibitively slow, and therefore useless.

The weights were so large that starting and stopping them by an ordinary electric motor involved a large motor and involved sudden stops and jerks. Moreover, for safety, any suspension cables would be so large as to be undesirably conspicuous.

According to the present invention it has been round possible to overcome these difficulties and objections, and an easily manipulatable window has been built which involves no weight lifting, no counterweights, provides an automatically inserted .fiy screen when the window is open, is rugged, weathertight, and free from unsightly and free from unsightly enclosures of par To efiect these and other ends ,the invention, in the, form shown, provides a concealed power device in the form of an electric motor which is adapted to raise or lower the large sheet of glass covering the window, and the connections are found to work well when they hold the glass locked so long as the motor is at rest.

In the form shown it has been found unbeen found a satisfactory support when attached to the glass throughout the length of its upper edge, and hung from a roller.

In the form shown, the motor is a small motor, operating the roller through a train of gearing, preferably including two worms in series, to convert the high speed of the motor into a suitable speed for the heavy glass. Thus the motor normally locks the roller, but turns it slowly to raise the glass by rolling up the screen, or lowers the glass by positively unrolling the screen.

In the form shown a single switch may control the motor to set the glass at any desired height, and stops may arrest the glass at either end of its travel, preferably cushioning the glass arresting device.

In the form shown the motor and connections to the roller may be contained in a compact unit, thus enabling any ordinary carpenter to erect the device.

Such a construction makes the weatherproofing a relatively simple mechanical problem.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a window of the present invention viewed from the inside with some members removed.

Fig. 2 shows the same on a smaller scale before removing cover members.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional side view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional front view partially in section on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view of parts of Hg. 3 on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a broken horizontal sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of the gearing between the motor and the screen roller.

Fig. 8 is an electrical diagram showing the switch controls.

In the drawings which show the inventionapplied to a double glass window weighing about 165 pounds, and about 66 inches'by 44 inches, the two facing spaced lights of glass in and il, are shown as mounted in a usual metal frame 12 which, in turn, is suspended from a usual form of fly screen netting l3, such as bronze netting, by clasping the lower edge 84 of the netting between bars 85 which are made fast to the top of the frame 02 or support the frame.

The glass 80, H is guided in vertical side channels l1, it, within angle-irons i9, 29, 25, 22, as it is lifted or lowered by the netting i3 when 3 the netting I3 is wound upon or unwound from its overhead roller 23.

In the form shown, when the roller 23 turns to lower the glass or sash III, II, the glass sinks into a narrow opening 24 below the sills 25, 23, and the channel l1, l8, preferably extend about to the bottom of the opening 24.

To raise the heavy glass l8, N, there is shown a motor 27, readily concealed in a side opening 28 in the wall 29, and connected by a suitable reduction gearing 38 to the relatively heavy shaft 3| of the roller 23 so that the roller is stiff enough to carry safely the weight of the glass IO, N, without tendency to run crooked, as it turns in its two end bearings 32, 33.

The motor 21 may be small and relatively high speed split-phase reversible, so that it occupies only a small space.

The reduction gear 35 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 7 as including a worm shaft 34 coupled to the motor shaft 35, a worm wheel 35 driven by the worm 34, a second worm 31 on the shaft 38 of the worm wheel 36, and a second worm wheel 39 driven by the second worm 31.

The shaft 40 of the worm wheel 39 is diagrammatically shown as coupled to the roller shaft 3|, so that a high speed motor 21 turns the roller 23 slowly. Moreover, the worms 3! and 34 of many standard commercial units hold the shaft 48 locked unless the motor is turning. Thus the drive devices may be built of standard parts and may utilize the motor as a positive control for moving the glass up or down or holding it set at any desired position. v

To effect the raising and lowering of the glass the motor 21 may be reversible as stated above. A split phase one has been found satisfactory for use in alternating current circuits.

Electrical connections for controlling are shown in one form in Fig. 8, in which current comes in at mains 4|, 42, and all circuits are open, so the glass is positively held where it stands because the worms lock the roller 23.

To cause the glass to rise a switch handle 43 (Fig. 2) may be lifted, lifting the switch terminals 44, 45. The terminal 44 strikes the terminals 46, 41 closing one side of a circuit through the conductor 48 from the main 4|, and through conductor 49 to the armature 53 and through the conductor 5| to the field 52 of the motor.

At the same time the terminal 45 closes the 4 68 and the spring 56 until the lug 53 is yieldingly carried by the spring 66 against the switch 58 to open it, thus arresting the motor 21 and locking the glass H), II in place.

When the switch handle 43 is shifted downward, the handle 43 carries the terminal 44 to strike the terminals 61, 68 and close one side of a circuit from the main 4| and conductor 68, through the terminals 61, 68 to the conductor 53, thus reversing the current reaching the conductor 53. At the same time the terminal 45 strikes the terminals 10, H, closing the opposite side of the circuit from the main 42 through the conductor 12.

Then the glass IO, N moves downward until the lug 59, carried down by the cross-piece l5 pressing the spring 65, strikes the switch 13, breaking the circuit 12 and arresting the motor 2 It will be noted that the conductor 59, when used, short-circuits the switch 58, and the conductor 54, when used, short-circuits the switch 13.

It will be noted that the bottom cross-bar 62 carries a thick rubber lip 14, hanging down at its outer end where it projects into a front enlargement of the opening 24 when the glass III, II is lowered, and the lip 14 rises to press other side of the circuit to the armature 53 through the conductor 53 and the conductor 54 to the main 42 and also closes the other side of the circuit to the field 52 from the conductor 54 through a conductor 55. This the terminal does by striking the terminals 53 and 51.

The motor then drives the glass up until switch handle 43 is shifted, or until the moving glass arrests the motor by opening a switch 58 in the conductor 48, by carrying a lug 53 against the cut-out switch 58.

In the form shown provision is made for arresting the sliding glass II, II without shock.

In the form shown the lug 53 is carried on a' slidabie mount 68 embracing one of the vertical tie rods 6| which hold together the top bars 15 and a bottom cross bar 32 around the metal frame l2 nut 64.

The slidabie mount 83 rides between an upper spring and a lower spring 33, so that the lower by its threaded ends "3 and spring 65 normally rests on the cross bar 62,

and when the glass I3, I rises it carries up the spring 65 and the spring carries up the mount against the inclined lower face I5 of an inwardly projecting lip 16 of the outer wall 11, and snap over it to overlie it, thus keeping out wind and rain.

In the form shown, the glass II and its frame l2, and cross bars I5, 62, slide against resilient weather strip, vertical cushions 18 carried on the projecting outer bases of front channel bars 18. I

The device shown also includes identical cushions 18 on rear channel bars and 8|. The cushion 18 adjacent the mount 59, carried on the channel bar 80 may be stiff enough to extend across the opening 82 in that bar, see Fig. l, where one web of the bar 88 is cut away to provide an open space for the projecting lug 53 to slide in (see Fig. 6).

The channel bar 19 on the opposite side of the window may be uniform throughout the height of the window. All the cushions 18 are shown as bearing against the metal frame |2 which holds the glass l0 and glass against the internal spacing bars 83.

1 When the glass IO, U is arrested at the top of its travel the top lies in an opening between the opposing faces of long heavy angle irons II.

The ornamental angle irons 89, 38 may overlie horizontal front and back resilient weather strip cushions 81 adapted to keep out drafts by fitting closely against the glass IO, N or metal frame I2, but allowing free sliding.

The angle iron bars 86 serve. as a base carrying the bearings 32, 33, and it also carries the separate unit of motor 21 and reduction gear 38, so that the angle bars 86 with those bearings and motor unit may be factory assembled, with the roller 23 and its rolled-up wire netting l3, if desired.

The opening 28 in the wall which contains the angle irons 86 and associated parts is shown closed by a front cover board 88.

The side angle irons 2|),v 22 may be continued if desired across the top of the window in horizontal angle irons 89, 38, see Fig. 3, which may be united to the side angle irons 28, 22 in any desired manner, and lie close to the faces of the 'll glass IO, II when raised.

The innersill 25 is shown as carrying aresilient weather strip 8|.

The wire netting I3 is much thinner than the glass structure In, H, and, therefore, clears the weather strips 9|, 81, 18. It is shown,-Fig. e as wider than the glass structure, and as extending beyond the cross-bars i5 and 62 and tie rods 6|, so. that, as the roller 23 winds or unwinds the netting l3, the edges 94 of the netting ride in narrow slots 92 in the bottoms of the sheet metal lugs 93 in the vertical channel bars 19.

The couplings 95 in the shafts 35 enable a standard reducing gear unit to be used with other standard parts.

To attach the netting [3 t0 the glass I0, I I, the metal frame l2 may be firmly held to one bar it of the bars and the end of the netting laid flat on the face of the bar 98, with a compressible material 91 as facing, and then the other bar I! be laid against the face of the bar 96 over the netting and material 91 and fastened firmly in place, gripping the netting by screwing down screws 98.

The netting always suspends the glass and netting at approximately the desired height, so the moving glass is never stopped by striking against a solid strip, but always hangs free, so the netting is held free from kinking and buckling.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is:

1. In a window operating device a netting, a roller adapted to roll up the netting, a glass supported by the netting, a shaft for the roller, a motor for the roller, worm and worm wheel connections between the motor and shaft, and a bar assembly on which the roller and motor and worm connections are mounted as a unit.

2. In a window operating device a netting, a roller adapted to roll up the netting, a glass supported by the netting, a shaft for the roller, 9. motor for the roller, worm and worm wheel connections between the motor and shaft, and a bar assembly on which the roller and motor and worm connectionsare mounted as a unit, electrical connections for operating the motor in either direction, a switch for arresting the motor in one direction, a second switch for arresting the motor in the opposite direction, and a third manually operable switch for starting the motor in any position and arresting it in any position.

3. In a window operating device a netting, a roller adapted to roll up the netting, a glass supported by the netting, a shaft for the roller, a motor for the roller, worm and worm wheel connections between the motor and shaft, adapted to lock the shaft when the motor is idle, and a bar assembly on which the roller and motor and worm connections are mounted as a unit.

4. In a window operating device a netting, a roller adapted to roll up the netting, a glass supported by the netting, a shaft for the roller, a motor for the roller, worm and worm wheel connections between the motor and shaft, adapted to lock the shaft when the motor is idle, and a bar assembly on which the roller and motor and worm connections are mounted as a unit, electrical connections for operating the motor in either direction, a switch for arresting the motor in one direction, a second switch for arresting the motor in the opposite direction, and a third manually operable switch for starting the motor in any position of the window and arresting it in any position thereof.

5. The combination with a vertically slidable window glass element, of an overhead suspension of the element,

, of the element, a frame for said element including tie rods sliding in said guides, an electric motor operating said suspension means, a worm and worm wheel connection between the motor and the suspension means adapted to lock the suspension means when the motor is idle,

, switches in one guide, a switch lug slidable on nection between the motor the rod in said guide, and springs on opposite sides of the lug to resiliently operate the switches by the lug.

7. The combination with a vertically slidable window glass element, of an overhead suspension means for the element, including a fly screen netting, side guides for the edge of the element, a frame for said element including tie rods sliding in said guides, an electric motor operating said suspension means, switches in one guide, a switch lug slidable on the rod in said guide, and springs on opposite sides of the lug to resiliently operate the switches by the lug.

8. The combination with a vertically slidable window glass element, of an overhead suspension means for the element, including 'a fly screen netting, side guides for the edge of the element, a frame for said element including tie rods sliding in said guides, an electric motor operating said suspension means, a worm and worm wheel connection between the motor and the suspension means adapted to lock the suspension means when the motor is idle, switches in one guide, a switch lug slidableon the rod in said guide, and springs on opposite sides of the lug to resiliently operate the switches by the lug.

9. The combination, with a vertically slidable window glass element, of an overhead suspension means for the element, including a fly screen netting, side guides for the edge of the element, a frame for said element including tie rods sliding in said guides, an electric motor operating said suspension means, connection between the motor and the suspension means adapted to lock the suspension means when the motor is idle, switches in one guide, a switch lug slidable on the rod in said guide, and springs on opposite sides of the lug to resiliently operate the switches by the lug, and a manually operated switch to start the motor from any position and to arrest it in any position.

10. The combination with a vertically slidable window glass element, of an overhead suspension means for the element, including a fly screen netting, side guides for the edge of the element, a frame for said element including tie rods sliding in said guides, an electric motor operating said suspension means, a worm and worm wheel conand the suspension means adapted to lock the suspension means when the motor is idle, switches in one guide, a switch lug slidable on the rod in said guide, and springs on opposite sides of the lug to resiliently operate the switches by the lug, and a manually operated switch to start the motor from any position and to arrest it in any position, and lock the suspension means.

a worm and worm wheel glass attached netting rolled upon the roller, 9. sheet of window to and holding the netting free from kinks and supported solely by the netting, and means for rotating the roller to selectively lift and lower the glass by the netting.

12. The combination with a roller of a wire netting rolled upon the roller, a sheet of window glass attached to and holding the netting free from kinks, slightly narrower than the netting and supported solely by the netting, a guide at each side of the glass having a channel in which the glass runs and also having a deeper narrow channel in which the edge of the netting runs, and means for rotating the roller to selectively lift and lower the glass by the netting.

;13. The combination with a roller, of a wire netting rolled upon the roller, a sheet of window glass attached to and holding the netting free from kinks and supported solely by the netting, a reversible motor, a worm driven by the motor, and a worm wheel connected to the roller and driven by the worm to turn the roller to selectively raise and lower the glass by the motor.

14. The combination with a roller of a wire nettingvrolled upon the roller, a sheet of window glass attached to and holding the netting free from kinks, narrower than the-netting and supported solely by the netting, a guide at each side of the glass having a channel in which the glass runs and also having a deeper narrow channel in which the edge of the netting runs, a reversible motor, a worm driven by the motor, and a worm wheel connectedto the roller and driven by the worm to turn the roller to selectively raise and lower the glass by the motor.

15. The combination with a roller, of a wire netting roiled upon the roller, a sheet of glass supported solely by the netting, a reversible electric motor, a worm driven by the motor, a worm wheel turned by the worm and connected to the roller, a single electric switch including electric connections to the motor adapted to deliver electric current to selectively drive the motor in either direction and to keep it idle, and limit switches adapted to arrest the motor at the ends of the LAWRENCE vrm REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS travel of the glass.

Date

Number Name Re. 17,587 Emig Feb. 11, 1930 309,636 Mann Dec. 23, 1884 1,262,643 Coleman Apr. 16, 1918 1,593,324 Anderson July 20, 1926 1,936,300 Guss Nov. 21, 1933 

